Remembering Om Puri: 5 Films That Showcased His Acting Skills

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OCTOBER 17,2023

Om Puri was the most established actor who ever worked in the Indian film industry in terms of the finesse of his craft. With a career that spanned over four decades, he was a part of many films where he proved why he could do almost any role with the same strength and appeal.

He was part of many serious films in the early phase of his career due to his unconventional looks. However, in the 2000s, he started getting work in some mainstream light-hearted comedies like Malamal Weekly and Mere Baap Pehle Aap, where everyone loved his performances.

Some films that are still lesser known and watched from his career are the ones he did early on in his career. They are arguably his best performances. Here's remembering Om Puri with 5 films that show his acting skills:

1) Aakrosh

A role that had little to no dialogue apart from the deadly stare that Puri's character carries throughout. Playing the role of a tribal person who is wrongly accused of the murder of his wife, Om Puri embodied the character with so much finesse that he stopped performing and started 'becoming'.
Directed by Govind Nihalani, this film was met with critical acclaim and remains the best in Indian cinema. Something particularly noteworthy about Om Puri's is the climax, which proves why he is a master performer.

2) Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro

A film that boasted so many legendary actors like Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah, and Om Puri It was not much appreciated at the time of its release but became a classic over the years. In the film, Om Puri played the role of a corrupt contractor. The unusual comic timing and the film's overall style are very appealing.Om Puri's descent into comedy was one that showed the world that he was not just made for serious roles.

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3) Ardh Satya

A film that draws parallels to Amitabh Bachchan's Vijay from Zanjeer, Om Puri essays the role of an angry young man in the film. However, writer Vijay Tendulkar subverts the mainstream idea and adds more nuance to the character of Anant Velankar, played by Puri.
He won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1983 for the role.

4) Party

Again, a film directed by Govind Nihalani, Om Puri had a comparitively smaller role in it. His strong and powerful voice as a social activist who comes to a party and shares his perspective is something to die for. It remains an important film that needs to be seen for all the other performances it has, along with Puri's layered portrayal.

5) Dharavi

In Dharavi, directed by Sudhir Mihsra, Om Puri plays a taxi driver who has big dreams of making it big in Bombay. The anxiety and angst of living on the margins in a slum in a city are painfully captured by Puri throughout the film. It remains a film that will remain among his top performances in his long career.

Also read: Om Puri passes away due to heart attack, he was 66